One of the most common questions we receive from people who have suffered an injury is: “What Whole Person Impairment percentage do you think I’ll receive?”
Unfortunately, there is rarely a simple answer.
Whole Person Impairment (WPI) assessments are highly specialised medical assessments used in a range of compensation schemes to determine the permanent impact an injury has had on a person’s body. These assessments are not based on how deserving a person is, how severe they believe their injury is, or how significantly their injury has affected their life. Rather, they are conducted in accordance with strict medical guidelines and assessment criteria.
What Is a Whole Person Impairment Assessment?
A WPI assessment is performed by a qualified medico-legal doctor who has been trained in the assessment of permanent impairment.
The assessor is required to apply prescribed guidelines and methodologies to determine the degree of permanent impairment resulting from an injury. Depending on the compensation scheme involved, this may include reference to the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides and scheme-specific guidelines.
Different injuries are assessed in different ways. For example, the assessment of a spinal injury differs significantly from the assessment of a psychological injury, hearing loss or injury to the upper or lower limbs. Each type of injury has its own assessment criteria and method of calculation.
Why Is the Percentage Sometimes Lower Than Expected?
Many people are surprised by the impairment rating they receive.
It is important to understand that a WPI assessment is not intended to measure pain, suffering, inconvenience, financial loss or the overall impact an injury has had on a person’s life. Instead, it is a medical assessment conducted in accordance with detailed guidelines.
As a result, an injury that has had a profound impact on someone’s work, family life and daily activities may not necessarily attract a high impairment rating under the applicable assessment criteria.
For this reason, people should try not to take a WPI percentage personally or view it as a reflection of the seriousness of their experience.
Avoid Making Assumptions
It is also common for people to compare themselves to friends, colleagues or information they have read online.
However, every injury is different. Small differences in medical evidence, symptoms, diagnoses, examination findings and treatment history can produce very different outcomes.
Until a qualified assessor has reviewed the relevant medical evidence and conducted an examination, it is often difficult to accurately predict what an impairment assessment might be.
Why Legal Advice Matters
Understanding permanent impairment assessments can be difficult, particularly where important rights and entitlements depend upon the outcome.
Obtaining advice early can help ensure the correct evidence is obtained, the relevant injuries are properly assessed and you understand how the assessment may impact your claim.
If you have suffered an injury and would like advice about your rights and entitlements, contact us today for a free initial conference. Our experienced team can help you understand the claims process and guide you through every step of your matter.
